Stretcher



Sept. 28, 1926. 1501,391

s'. A. HOLMQUIST STRETCHER Filed May 31. 1921 4 Swueuboz firafifzA/t/myw/if 351 3144 Qua (Mm i Patented Sept. 28, 1926.

UNITED sreres SVANTE A. HOLMQUIST, OF EAST ORANGE,

NEW JERSEY, AssIGnoR (or ONE-HALF T0 HENRY 'G. 'KARLSON, 0F HASBROTJCK HEIGHTS, NEW JERSEY.

Application filed May 3 1,

This invention appertains to a scarf stretcher and it has particular reference to a device for smoothing out wrinkles eventually occurring in the material .of which so- .called four-ln-hand neck-ties are made.

A further object is the production of a,

device of the type specified which shall be convenient to insert into a tie or withdraw therefrom, and permitting adjustment of one side of the latter relatively to the other.

Astill further object is the provision in a device of the hind referred to of means whereby interrelative slipping may be prevented between members included in th structure and the tie stretched thereover.

Still another object is to furnish a device of the species mentioned so constructed and arranged that one side thereof may be rendered inoperative to enable insertion into a narrow tie.

An additional object is to supplya device of the class alluded to, composed of few, simple and durable parts, not liable to get out of order besides amendalole to low cost of production, and which may be stored as well as shipped in a container of small compass. V I

Other objects and advantages of the in vention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid obgects in view. the invention consists of the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their pr .ferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and i1 lustrated on the annexed drawing. wherein like parts are by the same l...e1'"

1921. Serial No. 473,880.

ence characters throughout the several views.

Generally described, the invention under consideration includes in its organization an expansible frame designed tor insertion into thejlarger end of a four-in hand necktie and consisting of apair of converging members held apart by inherent resiliency, being formed with oppositely bowed portions adjacent to the vertex thereof where they are joined together by a single coil or loop. At their free divergent terminals these members are provided with inwardly offset handle parts, and intermediately on the former are located antislipping eleinents serving to prevent interrelative sliding between the frame members and the tie stretched thereover. Between the members extendsa central stem the outer extremity whereof constitutes a manipulating grip and is furnished with. an eye by means of which the device in its entirety can be suspended from a primary support. Associated with this stem is a guide for the handle portions of the members, capable also of limiting the spreading of the latter. At a predetermined distance from the members bowed portions which locate the implement relatively to the contracted part of the tie the central stem is curved in a direction away from the plane in which the members are situated, which curve is disposed so as to come substantially opposite that portion of the tie whereof the knot is formed, the curve being adapted to impose a triangulated stretching effect upon the latter named portion to compensate. for bagginess occurring therein. The construction and arrangement. is preferably such that one member may be manipulated independently of the other and 9.0 if desired locked into inoperativeness to permit insertion of the instrument in ties of narrow widths.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in the one and same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled the art to which the invention appertains, upon becoming conversant with the details thereof, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplification of the invention.

In the said drawing Figure I is a side view of this improved device showing it operatively applied with in a tie, the contour of the latter being indicated by dot and dash lines;

Fig. II is an edge view of the device looking from the right-hand side of the pre ceding figure;

Fig. III is an end view of the tie-stretcher as seen from the bottom of Fig. I; and

Fig. IV' is an enlarged transverse section taken on the irregular line IVIV of the last named figure, looking in the direction pointed out by the arrows thereto appertaining.

Referring now to the said views for a detailed description of the invention, the numerals 11 and 12 designate a pair of members that form the converging sides of a frame adapted for insertion into the larger open end of a socalled four-inhand tie, which has been denoted by the reference character A. These side members are preferably made of flat-sectioned wire, possessing the necessary resiliency to spread apart after being forced inwardly one towards the other. The narrow outer sides of the said members 11 and 12 are arranged, afterinsertion within the tie A, to engage the opposite edges of the latter and cz-cert a tensioning strain on the fabric from which it is made, sulfcient to smooth out such wrinkles as may occur in the ties larger or wider end portion.

At the vertex, of the converging members where they are joined to one another, is shown a. single convolution of a coil or loop 14, the purpose of which is to further augment their inherent flexibility. Adjacent to this coil, the said members are bowed slightly outwardly in a sidewise direction as indicated at 15 and 16, for approximately onequarter to one-third of their lengths while the remaining portions thereof are substantially straight thruout for the actual working distance, that is, where they contact with the opposite edges of the tie. reason of their curvature, the said how d parts 15, 16 are brought into touch with the interior of the ties contracted or narrowing portion, sooner than if the side members of the stretcher were made merely acutely straight, the object whereof will be more fully hereinafter referred to.

In order to afford a convenient manipulating grip for the operators hand when inserting the stretcher into a tie or removing it therefrom, the free outer extremities of the members 11, 12 are provided with inwardly offset handle portions 19, 20 having 0ut wardly bent terminals 21, 22 respectively. From Fig. 1 it will be seen that the connection between the outer and inner ends of the said members and the said handles, consists of reversely curved knee portion." 25, 26 respectively, formed integral therewith.

To preclude interrelative sliding movement between the side members of the device and the tie stretched thereover, antislipping or friction elements 29, 30 are furnished. In their preferred embodiment, these elements consist of pieces of rubber wherewith the said members are covered on their outer edges a predetermined distance from the knees 25, 26, which distance may be about the same as the inception of the bowed parts 15, 16 away from the coil 1 f. If desired, the said elements 29, 30 may be composed of short sections of rubber tubing, pushed over the handles, past the knee portions, to the required positions on the members that they are to occupy. At the places on the side members where it has been found most desirable to locate these anti-slipping elements, the former are notched or cut out on their outer edges as at 31, 32, to a depth commensurate with the thickness of the walls of the said elements; This enables the placing of the latters outer wall surfaces in alignment with the corresponding edges of the members adjoining the same, so that no break of continuity occurs between them which would be liable to cause unevenness in the tie stretched thereover.

Intermediate of the said members 11 and 12 extends a central member or carrying stem 35, one extremity whereof as represented, is anchored to the loop 1%, as by means of a hook 36 that takes over the adjacent inner portion of the latter. Cemmencing opposite a point substantially halfway down the lengths of the members bowed parts 15, 16 to a transverse line 111- tersecting approximately the middle of the elements 29, 80, the said carrying stem is curved outwardly to one side, as indicated at 38. I'Vhen the appliance is entered into a tie or scarf, the said bowed parts 15, 16 encounter the contracted portion of the lat ter, which thereby prevents further insertion. At such time, the curved part 38 becomes located opposite the portion of the tie from which is formed the knotusually appearing in front, between the corners of a collar. As this portion of the tie is subjected to severe usage, when the same is tied or untied, more wrinkles and creases appear therein than in the remainder of its length, and it also becomes considerably baggy at this point. However, by reason of the fact, that the said knot portion of the tie not only is passed over the carved part .38 but is also exposed. to sidewise tension by the spreading action of the memhere 11, 12, a three-sided stretching effect is produced thereon, which removes the creases and smoothes out all wrinkles occurring in the fabric composing the tie. The method followed is seen to best advantage in Fig. IV, wherein the reference letter B designates :the ties rear portion. From this view itwi'll be observed that .the bagginess previously mentioned has been taken care of by transferring it to :the rear portion of the tie which is made :to pass over the curve 38 of the stem Thus, the riginal width of the ties front portion is kept the same, while any occurring slackness is taken up in the rear thereof. It is to note that when a tie is new and fresh, :the same may .be

readily tied into a presentable knot without having a great deal of strain applied thereon. But, after some wear, when wrinkles begin to appear therein, more tension is required, which in :turn accentuates the creases and makes it still harder .to obtain a neat looking knot, why the longer a tie is worn, the more tugging 1 s needed to eradicate the a in 'GCL ooservec in wor eel-war. b l g eii" l l n n l c Lhis finally necessitates discarding of the tie or scarf, alt-ho those parts thereof that lie beyond its knot portion, may be in fair condition. This is because the fabric where the wrinkles have been permanently formed, has been stretched beyond endurance, and cracks or tears have begun to appear therein.

reason of the fact that with the pres-- ent instrument, the tie is prevented from creeping down the tapering edges of the side members 11 and 12, due to the antislipping'elements 29, 30, the tie will remain in the position where it .is placed. The lengthwise stretching .-tliei.-eof effected by the operator when drawing :the tie over the device is maintained, the same being assisted by the sidewise acting strains, so that the tie :is *kept taut in all directions, whereby longitudinal, transverse or oblique wrinkles and creases become obliterated.

The central carrying stem '35 iseXtended as at l0, centrally between the handles 19, 20, being further provided beyond the latter with an eye 4.1, by means of whichlthe stretcher with the tie thereon may be suspended from a primary support. At &3 and il are indicated arms that project in opposite directions away from each other. These arms which constitute a guide for the side members 11, 12 are joined one to the other in the rear by a tie-piece 45 which together with the arms are prefer-ably formed intewith the stem and its extension 4:0. The outer conjoined extremities of the said arms 43, 44, and the tie -pieeee5 constitute stops 4?, 418, that are-engaged by the inner portions of the handles :or grips '19, 20 to in stance the limit {the Spreading of the side members ll,

vl2, The space -l9' between thearms d3,

in front, and the piece 4:5 in the rear, is sufficiently wine for the handle members 19, 520 to pass each other, were it desired to compress the latter to such an extent.

At 12* and 20 (Fig. I) is indicated in dot and .dash lines, how one of the side members ight hand one 12, may have its handle portion 20 placed locking relation with the grip part -10 of the stem .35 by virtue of the bent terminal 22 of the said handle 20 being made to take over the s 'c' grip l0 as denoted ,at 22?. In view of ti s arrangement it is possible ,to contract the device so that it may be inserted into a comparatively narrow four-in-hand ,tjie. On accoimtof being able to manipulate the leg members independently, by merely squeezing on one of the side handles in coni jjunction with the centralgrip, either edge of a tie stretched upon this appliance may be adjusted without interfering with the other.

Notwithstanding that this .device has been primarily designed for the purpose of distending a tie from the inside thereof in order to eradicate wrinkles ;.occurring in the fabric of which the latter is made, it is manifest that by modifying the shape of its component parts, the same may be used for stretching other articles.

lVhile a certain preferred .embodimentof this device has been shown and described, it will be understood that changes in the form, arrangements, proportions, sizes and details thereof may be made, without departing from the scope [of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I desire to secure :by Letters Patentand claim, 1s':-.

1. Adevice of the character described, inclucz 'ng exterior members extending in .converging relation to each other in substantially straight direction for :the greater part of their lengths, being provided near their approaching ends with outwardly bowed portions while their opposite extremities are free, {vertex meansforming continuations of said pontions unitingsaid members, and another member anchored to'said means and extending intermediate of said exterior members constitutingtogether with the latter a manipulating grip for the-device, each one of the said exterior members being capable ofindependent movement towards said other member.

2. A deviceof the character described, including a resilient frame adapted for insertion within .an object :to be stretched, beingcomposed of a pair of members normally spread apart, in converging relation to one another, said members comprising substantially straight major parts, outwardly bowed portions conjoined with said parts at the narrower end of said frame, the opposite extremities of the members being free, a vertex constituting an integral convolution flexibly uniting said bowed portions, and a stem central between the latter having one end hooked over said convolution and its other end extending beyond the members, the said convergent members being each capable of independent movement relatively to said stem.

3. A device of the character described, including a frame composed of converging side members free at one end and having a common vertex at the other, being disposed approximately in the same plane, a stem extending from said vertex intermediate of the members permitting the latter independent movement towards one another, and handles projecting in the same general direction from the free ends of said members and outset inwardly therefrom on both sides of said stem.

4. A device of the character described, including a resilient pair of converging members having handle parts in offset alignment therewith, a vertex connecting the approaching ends of the members while leaving the opposite extremities thereof free, a stem extending centrally between the latter from said vertex, reversely curved knee portions connecting said parts in an outward direction with said members, and means for limiting the spreading of the handle parts relatively to said stem, said means reaching out on both sides of the stem and permitting the said parts to be moved towards the same independently one of the other.

5. A device of the character described, including outwardly spreading side members resiliently connected at one end, a stem reaching in central relation between said members from their point of connection to the opposite end, means for limiting the spreading of the members relatively to said stem, the outer edges of said members being provided intermediate the point of connection of the latter and the said means with longitudinally extending cut-out portions, and frictional elements on the members passed across said cut-out portions so as to be countersunk within the same.

6. A device of the character described, including a pair of converging members consisting of flat strips of metal having the narrow edges at one side thereof turned outwardly, the outer edge of each member being provided intermediate the ends of the latter with a notch extending longitudinally thereof, and a soft surfaced frictional element fixedly taking around the member in its said notch, the outer face of said element being flush with the outside edge of said member. 7

i1 device of the character described including oppositely disposed converging members, and friction elements of softer material than said members located thereon flush with their outer edges at a certain distance from the free ends thereof.

8. A device of the character described, in cluding side members extending in convergent relation to each other, being provided with extended notches intermediate their lengths on the outer sides thereof, and sections of tubular rubber elements having their outer portions in said notches.

9. A device of the character described, including oppositely disposed convergent inherently flexible members connected to each other at the converging end, and a sole other member extending longitudinally intermediate said members from their point of convergence but permititng them to be flexed at the opposite end either together or separately towards the said other member.

10. A device of the character described,

including a resilient frame composed of converging members free at one end, and a single stem extending substantially centrally from the vertex to the free ends of said members while permitting them to be moved independently towards one another, said stem constituting in conjunction with one of the members handle means for contracting the thereto appertaining side of the device.

11. A device of the character described, including converging side members, a stem extending lengthwise therebetween. and means offset to one side of the plane of said members tending to produce a three-sided stretching effect upon an article drawn over said members.

12. A device of the character described, including side members capable of distending edgewise a tie placed thereover, and a stem member extending lengthwise between the former, said latter member being provided with an outwardly curved portion located approximately midway longitudinally intermediate of said side members so as to come opposite that part of the tie whereof the knot is formed and serving to take up bagginess occurring therein. 7

13. A device of the character described, including self-spreading side members arranged in convergent relation and having free outer ends, another member reaching substantially centrally from the point of convergence of said side members, and guiding loops extending out from said central member adapted to take around the side members to limit their outward spread.

14. A device of the character described, including outwardly spreading side members resiliently connected at one end, a stem ex tending 'in central relation intermediate said members from their point of connection to the opposite end, thereby bisecting the angle between them, stops integral with stem serving to limit the spread of the side members by cont act therewith.

15. A device, of the character described, including converging side members resiliently urged one from the other, a stem extending substantially centrally from the point of convergence of the same, and

loops associated With said stem serving to guide said side members, the outer ends of said loops acting to limit the spreading 10 movement of the side members, the latter being free to pass on either side of the stem.

SVANTE A. HOLMQUIST. 

